The Death of the Dowager

Life isn't going so well for ex-actress Portia Redvers, in her new role as a temporary chef to the rich and snooty. Not only has her current employer, the Dowager Duchess of Cauldron—the late Duke's second wife—been pushed to her death down Cauldron Manor's dungeon steps, but the senior investigating officer, DI James McCulloch, is the man she lost her heart to after he arrested her on suspicion of murder in a previous investigation.  Portia never imagined she'd see him again, and yet, here he is, in her Highland hideout, with an abrasive sidekick, DS Robbie Burns (Raspy), who has the looks of Scarlett Johansson if not the personality.

Portia, when she needs help navigating the minefield of real life, hides her feelings behind her carefully crafted dim persona and resurrects characters from her past acting roles—she has a character for every situation. Anything to prevent revealing the real Portia. 

Now Portia has one thing on her mind. Can she, using her acting experience and calling on past roles as a sleuth, uncover who killed the Dowager and, by doing so, impress James? She knows her love for him is hopeless, he's married, and she has morals, but she can't resist the desire to please him. As an actor, reading body language gives her an edge. Can she spot a liar? Not always, but she can spot a fake. Something James is aware of because he requests her help when interviewing suspects.